The Olympian

Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: News

Media Credit: BILL WILKIE A million little pieces is staying in one. The Math/Science Building mosaic was destined for the wrecking ball, but wrangling by a librarian and former OC student kept the artwork together.

After months of deliberation
and planning, the Olympic
College mosaic has been saved
and safely moved from the
condemned Math/Science
Building.
"I am just thrilled," said OC
librarian Dianne Moore, who
started a movement for the
mural's salvation last fall. "Once
the process got started, people
did everything possible to save
it."
Art conservationists and
archeologists lent their expertise
through studying the art piece and
giving professional opinions on
its possible salvation. In addition,
small portions of the mosaic
were tested for asbestos content
and durability in an attempt
to determine the feasibility of
detaching it from the wall.
All of these tests came back
with negative results. By all
accounts, the cost estimate of
removing the mural from its 50-
year position on the campus was
vastly over OC's project budget.
But in the eleventh hour, former
OC student Bonnie Loop took
personal interest in the mosaic
and began a plan of her own.
"When I read that the mosaic
was doomed for destruction in the
Kitsap Sun last July, it really had
a powerful impact on me," Loop
said. She attended the school in
the 1950s while the mosaic was
being constructed and has many
vivid memories in regard to it.
She quickly contacted Don
Drury, her neighbor and owner
of Drury Construction, and after
a quick rundown of the situation,
Drury agreed to help.
Drury and his employee Justin
Hooks soon made plans with
Barbra Martin, OC vice president
of administration, to discuss
cost-effective ways of saving the
mural. They decided that instead
prying the mosaic from the wall,
a team could move the wall with
the art still attached to a safe place
away from the wrecking ball.
Core samples of the mosaic
were obtained and taken to
a lab for durability tests. The
project transpired on Aug. 31
once the mural's durability was
determined.
With Hooks at the helm, the
Drury team joined forces with
Peninsula Concrete Cutting
and Millican Crane Service to
complete the move.
Workers cut the mosaic into three clean sections. Next,
they used a crane to slowly remove the pieces from the
building. As the crane worked, there were beams supporting
the mural from behind to insure stability as each
section awaited its movement.
The mosaic was effectively moved to the large student
parking lot, where it now rests in weather-protected storage.
"The removal of the mosaic ran $22,000," said OC
Chief Financial Officer Bridgid O. Brunson. "The expense
was funded out of the demolition budget for the Math/
Science Building."
Now that the mosaic has been saved, the next step is
to decide where its new home is going to be.
Martin said that a committee will be created within
the month for the mural's placement, but funding for
this placement is still uncertain.

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